Fountain Music Series features Chicago's Keith Hampton

As part of the Fountain Music Series at First Congregational Church of Ridgefield, the Annual Spring Concert on Sunday, April 26, at 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Sancuary will feature guest composer/conductor Dr. Keith Hampton. All Fountain Music Series events are free and open to the public.

The mission of FCC's Fountain Music Series is to preserve the Church as a center of art and culture, and to bring to the community the finest of musical performance, pursuing the motto "Excellence in all things, and all things to God's glory."

Keith Hampton, affectionately known as "Doc", is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Chicago Community Chorus (CCC). Dr. Hampton is an organ performer, conductor, composer, educator, church musician, adjudicator, and workshop clinician. He is the K-8 Vocal and Instrumental Music Instructor at the Chicago International Charter School-Bucktown Campus and the president of Dr. KT Productions, Inc., Chicago IL. Keith serves as Director of Music/Organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and Assistant Director of Music at Trinity United Church of Christ, both in Chicago.

A specialist in the field of Gospel Music, the North Central American Choral Directors Association in 2010 selected Dr. Keith Hampton as one of the top 25 Contemporary Composers "whose composition, Praise His Holy Name, should be the standard repertoire for choirs today and for the next 25 years."

Keith earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Marywood University, Scranton, PA; and a Doctor of Music Degree in Church Music from Northwestern University, Evaston, IL. Further, Dr. Hampton holds a Level III Certificate from the Kodaly Musical Training Institute, Hartford, CT; and has been awarded the Service Playing, Choir Master and Associate certificates from the American Guild of Organists.

At Dr. KT Productions, Inc. Keith provides music transcriptions of Black Gospel Music with the use of Finale by Make Music. He produced the CD, Celebrate, in 2009, and published the book, Praise His Holy Name... And Other Songs in the Gospel Style, in 2011.

In 2012, Dr. Hampton produced two organ CDs, Organ Masterworks, Volume 1, and French Organ Music, Volume 1. As a published composer, Keith Hampton's arrangement of Spirituals and Gospel Songs are available through the Ausberg Fortress Press, Choristers Guild, Earthsongs Publications, Hal Leonard Corporation, Hinshaw Music, and Dr. KT Productions, Inc.

First Congregational Church of Ridgefield is located at 103 Main Street.